Cable clamp

Abstract

A wire bundle or cable clamp primarily adapted for use in the aviation industry is disclosed. The clamp includes a flexible strap having a serrated portion and a strap receiving member on which a pawl having a lever portion and a complementary serrated portion is mounted, with the serrated portion being biased against the strap when a first end of the strap is inserted into and through the strap receiving member. The strap includes an enlarged head at the second end and the strap receiving member includes an opening on one side thereof to receive and hold the enlarged head of the strap when it is inserted in a direction perpendicular to a plane formed by the central axis of the strap when the strap extends around a wire bundle or the like so that the enlarged portion of the strap may be looped around the wire bundle and then inserted into the strap receiving member while the other end is secured in the strap receiving member by the pawl. The first end of the strap may then be grasped and pulled to tighten the strap around the wire bundle. The lever portion of the pawl is arranged so that it may be moved against the biasing force to disengage the serrated portion from the strap serrations. A guide member is secured to the strap receiving member between the pawl and the strap when inserted into the strap receiving member to ensure that the serrations are disengaged when the pawl is moved against the biasing force.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A clamp for clamping wire bundles and attaching the same to a mounting surface, comprising: a flexible elongated strap member having a central axis extending lengthwise of the strap member first and second ends, and serrations on a major portion of one side, the central axis defining a plane when the strap is curved to extend around a bundle of wires, the second end including an enlarged head;   a substantially rigid strap receiving member having a pair of sidewalls, a bundle receiving surface disposed substantially at right angles to the sidewalls, first and second slot-like openings on either side of the bundle receiving surface, a third slot-like opening spaced from the first opening, a first passageway extending from the first to the third opening for receiving the first end of the strap, a chamber constructed and arranged to accommodate the enlarged head of the strap member, and a second passageway extending from the second opening to the chamber for receiving the second end of the strap when inserted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, the second passageway engaging the enlarged head on the second end of the strap member and preventing the second end of the strap member from passing therethrough in response to a tensile force on the first end of the strap member, one of said sidewalls defining an opening aligned with the second passageway and the chamber to permit the second end of the strap member to be inserted into the second passageway in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the central axis and be held captive therein; and   a pawl member having serrations complementary to the serrations on the strap member, means for securing the pawl member to the strap receiving member adjacent the first passageway, the securing means including means to bias the pawl member against the strap member, the serrations on the pawl and strap members being arranged to allow the strap member to move in a direction to shorten the length thereof between the first and second openings and prevent the strap member from moving in the opposite direction when the pawl member is biased against the strap member; and   the pawl member including a handle portion extending through the third opening of the strap receiving member to permit the pawl member to be manually forced against the biasing means and away from the strap member and guide means carried by the strap receiving member and positioned between the pawl member and the strap member to prevent the portion of the strap member adjacent the serrations on the pawl member from following the pawl member when the pawl member is urged against the biasing means, thereby permitting the strap member to be moved along the first passageway in a direction to increase the length of the strap member extending between the first and second openings.   
     
     
       2. The clamp as defined in claim 1 wherein the guide means provides a bearing surface for engaging the strap. 
     
     
       3. The clamp as defined in claim 2 wherein the strap receiving member defines at least one opening therethrough for receiving a bolt to secure the clamp to the mounting surface. 
     
     
       4. A clamp for securing an object to a mounting surface, which comprises: a flexible elongated strap having a central axis extending lengthwise of the strap, first and second ends and serrations on one side, the second end of the strap defining securing means;   a strap receiving member having first, second and third openings therein, a first passageway extending between the first and third openings for receiving the first end of the strap, the first and second openings being positioned adjacent the object to be secured, a second passageway extending from the second opening and through one side of the strap receiving member for receiving the second end of the strap when inserted into the strap receiving member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the central axis of the strap when looped around an object to be secured, the second passageway including means for cooperating with the securing means to prevent the second end of the strap from being removed from the strap receiving member when subjected to a pulling force directed along the central axis; and   a pawl secured within the first passageway of the strap receiving member and means coupled between the pawl and the strap receiving member for biasing the pawl in a direction toward the strap when the strap is disposed within the first passageway, the pawl including a serrated portion adapted to engage the serrations on the strap and a lever portion extending through said third opening, the strap receiving member defining a guide member positioned adjacent said third opening and between the pawl and the strap when the first end thereof is inserted into the strap receiving member for preventing the portion of the strap adjacent the serrated portion of the pawl from following the pawl when the pawl is moved in a direction away from the strap.   
     
     
       5. The clamp of claim 4 wherein the securing means is in the form of an enlarged head on the second end of the strap and wherein the second passageway in the strap receiving member defines a cavity arranged to accommodate the enlarged head of the strap, the second passageway between the cavity and the second opening constructed to prevent the enlarged head from passing therethrough. 
     
     
       6. The clamp of claim 5 wherein the strap receiving member defines at least one opening therethrough for receiving a bolt to secure the clamp to the mounting surface.